LAST GAME SUMMARY Kansas State 65, TCU 53Game 26 * Bramlage Coliseum * February 19, 2014Junior Thomas Gipson registered his seventh career double-double with a team-high 16 points and season-tying 11 boards to help K-State to a 65-53 win over TCU on Wednesday. The win extended the Wildcats’ home court winning streak to 14 games, which ties two others for the longest in the 26-year history of Bramlage Coliseum. Despite turing the ball over 18 times, the Wildcats trailed the Horned Frogs only twice. The defense held TCU to just 36.2 percent shooting, including 15.4 percent from 3-point range. K-State dominated down low, out-rebounding TCU, 47-24, and posting a 32-24 edge in the paint. The bench also proved pivotal, as reserves keyed a 7-0 run at the 9:54 mark of the second half to put the game out of reach. Gipson was one of four Wildcats in double figures, as he was joined by Marcus Foster (13), Nino Williams (11) and Will Spradling (10).

QUICK HITTERS• K-State (18-8, 8-5 Big 12) begins a 2-game road trip to end the month of February on Saturday, as the Wildcats travel to Norman, Okla., to face Oklahoma (19-7, 8-5 Big 12) at 3 p.m. on the Big 12 Network. The squad wraps up the month at Texas Tech (13-13, 5-8 Big 12) on Tuesday.• With 5 games left in the regular season, K-State sits in a 3-way tie with the Sooners and No. 17/19 Iowa State (20-5) with 8-5 league records, just 1 game behind 2nd-place and No. 19/17 Texas (20-6, 9-4 Big 12) and just 1 game ahead of 6th-place West Virginia (15-11, 7-6 Big 12).• K-State enters Saturday with a 5-game road losing streak, which is the longest since losing 5 in a row from Feb. 2-March 1, 2008. The team is 4-7 away from home, including 1-5 in true road games. • In contrast, K-State extended its home court winning streak to 14 games in Wednesday’s 65-53 win over TCU. The 14-game winning streak ties 2 others (Feb. 17, 2009 to Jan. 18, 2010 and Jan. 15, 2011 to Jan. 7, 2012) for the longest in Bramlage Coliseum’s 26-year history.• K-State and Oklahoma will be meeting for the 199th time with the Sooners holding a 104-94 advantage in the series, including a 59-26 mark at home. The series has been competitive in the Big 12 era with Oklahoma holding a 13-9 edge and K-State winning 3 of last 4 in Norman.• K-State head coach Bruce Weber heads into Saturday’s game in a tie with Lon Kruger for the most wins by a head coach in his 1st 2 seasons in school history with 45. Kruger coached the Wildcats from 1986-90.• K-State is one of the fewest teams to boast 6 Top 35 RPI wins, including wins over No.1 Kansas, No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 21 Gonzaga, No. 23 Texas, No. 24 Oklahoma State and No. 32 George Washington. The Wildcats have an NCAA RPI of 38 and a rating of 30 in Sagarin and 45 in ESPN BPI. • K-State ranks in the Top 35 nationally in scoring defense (63.2 ppg., 31st), field goal percentage defense (39.9, 34th) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.0, 5th). The Wildcats have held 14 opponents to its season-low in points, including 13 to 60 points or less.• K-State offense is starting to come to form, as the Wildcats have scored 70+ points in 12 of the last 16 games, including 8 times in Big 12 play. • The Wildcats have shown balance with 7 different players leading the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. Nine players have at least one double-figure scoring game, while 3 players - Marcus Foster, Thomas Gipson and Shane Southwell - are averaging in double figures.

THE OPPONENT: RV/RV OKLAHOMA (19-7, 8-5 Big 12)• rv/rv Oklahoma (19-7, 8-5 Big 12) has had a week off since sweeping the series from Oklahoma State on Feb. 15 with a 77-74 win at Gallagher-Iba Arena... The win snapped a 2-game road skid and came on the heels of a loss to Texas Tech on Feb. 12.• Oklahoma is 11-3 at home, including 4-2 in league play. The team has league wins over Iowa State, TCU, OSU and Baylor.• Oklahoma is averaging a near Big 12-high 82.7 points on 45 percent shooting, including 37.2 percent from 3-point range, to go with 38.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 3.5 blocks per game, while allowing 76.9 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting... The team is averaging 78.1 points on 42.9 percent shooting, including 36.9 percent from 3-point range, in Big 12 play. • Oklahoma has one of the potent offenses in the Big 12, ranking 2nd in scoring offense, 3-point field goals made and free throw percentage and 3rd in 3-point field goal percentage... The team is also 2nd in steals and 4th in rebounding in the Big 12. • Sophomore Buddy Hield paces 5 players in double figures at 16.7 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting, including 38.1 percent from 3-point range... Senior Cameron Clark averages 15.4 points on 46.6 percent shooting, including 46.7 percent from 3-point range, while freshman Jordan Woodard averages 11.0 points with a team-best 4.7 assists per game... Sophomore Ryan Spangler nearly averages a double-double with 10.5 points on 60.2 percent shooting and a Big 12-best 9.9 rebounds per game.• Oklahoma is led by third-year head coach Lon Kruger, who has a 54-35 record in his tenure... He has a 533-339 record in his 28th season as a head coach, which includes stints at Pan American (1982-86), Kansas State (1986-90), Florida (1991-96), Illinois (1996-2000), UNLV (2004-11) and now Oklahoma... He is the only coach to take 5 different teams to the NCAA Tournament.• Lon Kruger is 4-4 all-time vs. Kansas State, including a 2-1 mark at home.

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES• This will be the 199th meeting between the two schools with Oklahoma leading the series, 104-94... The two schools have met at least once every season since 1927, while the series dates to 1920. • Oklahoma is 1 of only 2 Big 12 schools (Kansas) to hold a series advantage over K-State.• Oklahoma holds a 13-9 mark in the Big 12 era, including a 12-9 mark in the regular season.• Oklahoma owns a 59-26 record at home against K-State... Since losing 5 straight, the Wildcats have won 3 of last 4 in Norman.• K-State has won 7 of the last 10 meetings vs. Oklahoma since dropping 8 in a row from 2000-06. • K-State’s current 3-game winning streak in the series is the longest since also winning 3 straight from 1981-82.• Senior Will Spradling is averaging 10.5 points in 6 career meetings with Oklahoma, including 12 3-pointers.

NOTES FROM LAST MEETING: K-STATE 72, OKLAHOMA 66• K-State saw a season-high 5 players score in double figures, the 3rd time that has happened under Bruce Weber.• K-State tallied double-digit 3-point field goals (11) for the 2nd time this season and for the 1st time since totaling 12 vs. Tulane (12/28)... The team also recorded a then season-high for 3-point field goal percentage at 52.4 percent (11-of-21).• K-State held Oklahoma to 66 points (21 points below their average) on a season-low 33.3 percent shooting (22-of-66) from the field, including 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from 3-point range... It marked the Sooners’ second-lowest point total.• Oklahoma posted opponent highs for points off of turnovers (27), second-chance points (19) and offensive rebounds (19).• Marcus Foster led the team in scoring with 18 points on 6-of-12 field goals, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range.• Shane Southwell scored in double figures with 16 points to go with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.• Wesley Iwundu scored in double figures for the 1st time in Big 12 play with 11 points to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes... He also went a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range... He has now scored in double figures 4 times this season.• Nino Williams recorded a near double-double with 10 points and a team-high 9 rebounds.

K-STATE/OKLAHOMA CONNECTIONS• Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger has a long history with Kansas State as a player (1971-74), assistant coach (1977-82) and head coach (1986-90)... He was a two-time Big Eight Player of the Year (1973 and 1974) and is a member of the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. He had his jersey retired in 2006... He served as an assistant to his college coach, Jack Hartman, before succeeding him in 1986 and became the first head coach to lead the Wildcats to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.• Kruger is not the only Oklahoma staffer with Kansas State connections as assistant coach Steve Henson was a four-year player for the Wildcats from 1986-90 and director of operations Mike Shepherd is a former student manager for K-State and a 1992 graduate... Henson, who was recently inducted into the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame, is the school’s all-time leader in assists (582), free throw percentage (90.0) and minutes played (4,474) and played a school-record 127 consecutive games.

ON THE ROAD IN CONFERENCE PLAY• Saturday’s game will be the 7th road game, which includes a 65-47 win at TCU on Jan. 7 and losses at Kansas (60-86) on Jan. 11, Texas (64-67) on Jan. 21, Iowa State (75-81) on Jan. 25, West Virginia (71-81) on Feb. 1 and Baylor (73-87, 2 OTs) on Feb. 15.• The current 5-game road losing streak is the longest since the 2007-08 squad lost 5 in a row from Feb. 2-March 1, 2008.• The last time K-State lost more than 5 road games in a row was a 27-game drought from 2001-04.• K-State has posted a 40-36 record in true road games since 2006-07, including a 32-32 mark in Big 12 road contests. • K-State is 8-8 under head coach Bruce Weber in true road games, including 7-8 in Big 12 play.• K-State has tallied a winning road record 3 times in the last 4 seasons with a composite 24-14 mark in that span.• K-State’s road record of late has been stark in comparison to its road futility from 1996 to 2006... During that 10-year stretch, the Wildcats were a combined 18-89 on the road, including 10-70 in Big 12 play. Four times (1996-97, 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02) the team lost more than 10 road contests in a season and went winless on the road in Big 12 play on four occasions.• K-State is 4-7 away from home this season with neutral site games at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (1-2), Wichita Wildcat Classic (1-0) vs. Gonzaga and Brooklyn, N.Y., in the Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival (1-0) vs. Tulane to go with its 6 true road games.

IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY• K-State has been one of the better teams in the country in February over the last 5 seasons, boasting an impressive 35-9 mark, including 7-win campaigns in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2012-13... The team is 10-3 under Bruce Weber in the second month. • K-State has a 20-3 mark at home in February since 2009 with its losses coming to Kansas (2009, 2012) and Iowa State (2012).• K-State is 15-6 on the road in February over the last 6 seasons.• Since 2006-07 season, the Wildcats are 42-18 in February with a winning record in each of the last 5 seasons.• K-State finished January with a 5-3 mark, as the school clinched its 6th winnng record in the month in the last 8 seasons.• K-State also had a stellar December, as the Wildcats posted a 7-0 mark... It was the 5th perfect December in school history.

TCU POSTGAME NOTES• With the win, K-State extended its home court winning streak to 14 games, which ties two others (Feb. 17, 2009 to Jan. 18, 2010 and Jan. 15, 2011 to Jan. 7, 2012) for the longest streak in Bramlage Coliseum history.• K-State is now 31-2 at home under head coach Bruce Weber, including 15-1 in Big 12 play.• K-State now leads the series with TCU, 7-2, including 4-1 at home... The Wildcats are 4-0 vs. Horned Frogs in Big 12 era.• With the win, Bruce Weber tied Lon Kruger for the most wins (45) by a head coach in his first 2 seasons in school history.• The 65 points were the fewest scored at home in Big 12 play and fewest since the South Dakota game (64) on Dec. 10, 2013.• K-State continued to share the ball at a high rate, handing out 16 assists on 23 field goals made.• K-State committed 18 turnovers (its 2nd highest total of the season) and allowed 21 points off of those turnovers.• K-State held TCU to 53 points on 36.2 percent shooting (17-of-47), including 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from 3-point range... In 2 meetings this season, the Wildcats have held the Horned Frogs to 50 points on 35.4 percent shooting in 2 meetings.• Four players scored in double figures led by Thomas Gipson’s double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds... It marked his 7th double-double and 3rd this season... He has scored in double figures in 8 games and his 4th time with double-digit boards. • Freshman Marcus Foster scored 13 points on just 4-of-16 shooting to go with a team-high 6 assists in 35 minutes... It marked the 21th time that Foster has scored in double figures, including the 10th time in Big 12 play.• Junior Nino Williams, playing in place of the injuried Shane Southwell for 2nd straight game, scored 11 points on 5-of-8 field goals to go with 4 rebounds... He has now scored in double figures in 12 career games.• Senior Will Spradling posted double-digit points for the 43rd time in his career and 8th time this season with 10 points.

HOME VS. ROAD• K-State has a stark contrast in its record at home and on the road, as the Wildcats boast a 14-1 record in the friendly confines of Bramlage Coliseum (including 14 straight wins), but are just 4-7 away from home (including 1-5 in true road contests).• K-State is averaging 71.3 points on 44 percent shooting, including 33.8 percent from 3-point range, in its 15 home games, while its limiting its opponents to just 59.7 points on 37.6 percent shooting, including 24.5 percent from beyond the arc... • During its 7 home Big 12 games, the Wildcats are averaging 73.4 points on 45.9 percent shooting, including 39.5 percent from 3-point range, while holding its opponents to 63.3 points on 36 percent shooting, including 26.9 percent from 3.• K-State is averaging 66.2 points on 42.8 percent shooting, including 30.4 percent from 3-point range, in its 11 games away from home, while allowing opponents to 68 points on 43 percent shooting, including 32.6 percent from beyond the arc... • During its 6 true road games, the squad is averaging 68 points on 44.4 percent shooting, including 29.5 percent from 3-point range, while allowing opponents 74.8 points on 45.3 percent shooting, including 33 percent from 3.• Freshman Marcus Foster is the leading scorer regardless of venue, but his home stats are markedly better, as he averages 16.1 points on 44.3 percent shooting, including 42.7 percent from 3-point range, in 15 games at Bramlage Coliseum and 17.0 points on 48.8 percent shooting, including 48.8 percent from beyond the arc, in the 7 Big 12 home games.• Foster averages 13.5 points on 37.2 percent shooting, including 32.3 percent from 3-point range, in the 11 games away from home, including 15.3 points on 39.3 percent shooting, including 34.3 percent from beyond the arc, in 6 true road contests.• Junior Thomas Gipson tends to play better away from home, averaging 13.3 points on 59.8 percent shooting with a team-best 6.0 rebounds in the 11 games away from home, including 14.7 points on 58.7 percent shooting with 6.5 rebounds in the 6 true road games... He is averaging 10.5 points on 53.1 percent shooting with 7.0 rebounds in the 15 home games.

WINNING WITH DEFENSE• K-State ranks among the Big 12 leaders in defense, placing 1st in scoring defense (63.2 ppg.), field goal percentage (39.9) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.0)... In Big 12 play, K-State is 1st in field goal percentage (40.3) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (29.9) and 2nd in scoring defense (68.6 ppg.).• K-State ranks in the Top 35 nationally in all 3 categories, placing 5th in 3-point field goal percentage defense, 31st in scoring defense and 34th in field goal percentage defense.• K-State ranks 25th nationally (and 1st among Big 12 schools) in the UPS Defensive Team Performance Index at 119.19... The rating measure effective field goal percentage against opponents.• The Wildcats have held 14 of their last 26 opponents to its season-low in points, including to 60 or less on 13 occasions... 14 foes have been held below 40 percent shooting, while 18 have shot less than 30 percent from 3-point range. • K-State has held 29 opponents to 60 points or less under Bruce Weber with an impressive 27-2 record in those games.• If you take out the 6 games it has yielded 80+ points (Georgetown, Kansas, Iowa State, West Virginia and Baylor), K-State is holding its 20 other opponents to 56.8 points per game on 36.9 percent shooting, including 25.4 percent from 3-point range.• In 15 home games, K-State holding its opponents to 59.7 points on 37.6 percent shooting, including 24.5 percent from 3-point range... The team is holding its 7 Big 12 foes to 63.3 points on 36 percent shooting, including 28.4 percent from 3, at home.

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE ACCOLADES• Long Beach State’s 38 points on Nov. 24 tied for the fifth-fewest by an opponent in K-State’s modern era, which dates to the 1946-47 season... It was the fewest since Alabama-Huntsville scored 26 on Nov. 13, 2012. • K-State held Gonzaga to a season-low 62 points on 48 percent shooting, including 33.3 percent from 3-point range... The team came into the game ranking 11th in scoring offense (87.5 ppg.) and in the Top 5 in 3-point field goal percentage (44.4).• K-State held Tulane to a season-low 41 points on 28.6 percent shooting... The Green Wave were held to just 10 points on 13 percent shooting (3-of-23) in the first half... The 41 points were just outside the Top 10 for the fewest by an opponent.• George Washington was held to 22 points under its scoring average of 77.7 points on 47.7 percent shooting. • Oklahoma State was held to 15 points under its scoring average of 86.8 points on 40.4 percent shooting, including 21.4 percent from beyond the arc... The Cowboys ranked among the Top 10 in scoring offense (8th) and field goal percentage (8th).• K-State held Oklahoma, the Big 12’s top scoring offense, to 66 points (21 points below their average) on a season-low 33.3 percent shooting from the field, including 30.4 percent from 3-point range... It marked the Sooners’ second-lowest point total.• West Virginia was held to nearly 24 points under its scoring average of 79.9 points on a season-low 32.7 percent (16-of-49) from the field, including 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from 3-point range... The 56 points were a season-low for the Mountaineers.• Texas Tech was held to its second-lowest point total (58) and its lowest field goal percentage (33.9).• K-State held Texas to its lowest point total at 57 points on its 2nd-lowest field goal percentage at 32.7 percent (18-of-55)... The Wildcats also forced the Longhorns into a season-high 18 turnovers, scoring a season-best 26 points off of those miscues.

EFFICIENT OFFENSE• K-State is averaging 69.2 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting, including 32.4 percent from 3-point range... Although, the Wildcats rank 9th in scoring offense, field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage in the Big 12, the team is 2nd in assists (15.7 apg.)... The squad ranks 22nd in assists per game, 27th in total assists and 44th in assist-to-turnover ratio.• K-State has scored 70+ points in 15 games this season, including 12 times in the last 17 games.• K-State ranks 3rd in field goal percentage (45.2) and 5th in 3-point field goal percentage (35.2) in Big 12 play.• K-State has scored exactly 72 points in 5 games this season, including doing it in 4 consecutive games from Dec. 15-31... To add to this strange occurrence, the team has scored 71 points 3 times and 73, 74 and 75 points, respectively, in 4 other contests.• K-State is 27-4 under head coach Bruce Weber when scoring 70 or more points, including 12-3 this season.• K-State has an assist on a Big 12-best 64.5 percent (409 of 634) of its made field goals this season... In fact, only two other Big 12 schools - Iowa State (63.3) and Baylor (60.7) - have an assist on 60 percent or higher of its field goals.• K-State also leads the Big 12 in assists on made field goals in league play at 64.3 percent (211 of 328).• K-State has an assist on 70 percent of its field goals in 14 games, including a season-best 89.3 percent vs. Baylor (2/15).• K-State has posted at least 20 assists in 5 games, including 3 times in Big 12 play, with a season-best 25 vs. Baylor (2/15).

BENCH POINTS• K-State has gotten valuable production from its bench, as the reserves have accounted for 465 points or 17.9 per game.• Reserves have accounted for 20+ points in 10 games, including a season-best 30 points vs. Kansas (2/10).• In fact, the bench has produced double-digit points in all but 3 games (Ole Miss, at Texas and at West Virginia).• K-State is averaging 17.2 points from its bench in Big 12 play, including 18.9 points in its 8 Big 12 wins.• The bench has produced 8 double-digit scoring games this season, including 3 times by Nino Williams (Texas Tech, at Kansas and Oklahoma State), twice by Nigel Johnson (Charlotte & Tulane) and once each by Wesley Iwundu (Northern Colorado), Omari Lawrence (Long Beach State) and Thomas Gipson (Long Beach State).• Prior to his start vs. Baylor, Williams had been averaging 6.8 points on 50 percent shooting in the previous 11 games with 3.2 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game... This stretch includes 4 double-digit scoring games, including 15 vs. Oklahoma State (1/4).• Lawrence has averaged 5.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 steals in 16.1 minutes per game in the last 7 outings.• D.J. Johnson has averaged 7.3 points on 68.8 percent shooting with 4.5 rebounds in 19 minutes per game in last 4 games.

REBOUNDING AS A TEAM• A key stat to K-State’s success this season has been its ability to win the rebounding battle, which the Wildcats have done in 13 of 18 wins this season... Overall, the Wildcats have out-rebounded 17 opponents, including 16 in the last 22 games. • To demonstrate how important rebounding is to its success, K-State is 33-5 under Bruce Weber when out-rebounding its foes, including 13-4 this season, while just 11-11 in the last two seasons and 5-4 this year when being out-rebounded.• With its relatively small team, Bruce Weber has emphasized team rebounding and the Wildcats have responded with at least 4 players posting at least 4 rebounds in 13 of 18 wins, including at least 5 players with 4+ rebounds in 11 games. • K-State posted a season-high 52 rebounds vs. Central Arkansas (12/1), including 23 offensive boards... It was most rebounds since 54 vs. North Florida (11/18/2012) and the most offensive boards since 24 vs. George Washington (12/8/2012). • 7 players have led in rebounding, including 13 times by Thomas Gipson, 5 by D.J. Johnson, 4 by Marcus Foster and Wesley Iwundu, 3 by Nino Williams, 2 by Shane Southwell and 1 by Will Spradling. • Gipson has 3 double-doubles (vs. LBSU, Oklahoma State and TCU) on the season (and 7 in career), while Iwundu has 2.• The Wildcats rank 3rd in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds at 12.7 per game with Gipson ranking 7th with 2.3 per game.

SOUTHWELL CONTRIBUTING IN MANY WAYS • Senior Shane Southwell is finding ways to contribute in nearly every way, ranking 1st in assists (3.1 apg.) and blocks (1.0 bpg.), 2nd in rebounding (4.7 rpg.) and steals (0.9 spg.) and 3rd in scoring (10.4 ppg.) and minutes (27.9 mpg.). • Southwell missed the Baylor (2/15) and TCU (2/19) due to a foot injury, snapping a 51-game playing streak... He has missed just 8 games in his K-State career, playing in 119 games, and was the 1st miss since the George Washington game in 2012.• Southwell needs 2 games to jump into the career games played list, while he is 10 assists shy of breaking into career Top 10.• Southwell ranks 2nd on the team on season play hard chart with 155, including a team-high 92 deflections/blocks.• Southwell has been the leader in blocks 13 times, steals 8 times, assists 6 times, scoring 4 times and rebounding 2 times.• 11 times he has scored in double figures with a career-high 21 points vs. George Washington (12/31)... He recorded his 1st career 20-point game in Big 12 play with a team-tying 20 vs. West Virginia (1/18) to go with 4 3-pointers. • Southwell has scored in double figures 11 times in the last 22 games played, including 9 times in the last 17 outings.• Southwell ranks in the Big 12’s Top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9, 7th), blocked shots (10th) and assists (11th).

EXPERIENCE BIG FOR SPRADLING • Senior Will Spradling brings tons of experience to a youthful team, having played in 127 games with 98 starts... He ranks 1st in steals (33) and minutes (30.3), 2nd in 3-pointers (42) and assists (72) and 4th in scoring (8.2 ppg.) and field goals (65).• Spradling ranks in the Top 10 in 9 career categories in school history, including 4th in 3-point attempts (494), 5th in games played (127), minutes (3,495), steals (116) and free throw percentage (81.3), 6th in starts (98), 3-pointers (175), assists (308) and 9th in wins (90)... He is the 9th player in school history to tally at least 90 wins in a career.• Spradling and fellow senior Shane Southwell have compiled a 90-38 mark in their career, including 42-23 in Big 12 play.• Only 4 other players in school history have played more minutes than Spradling... Those include Steve Henson (4,474, 1987-90), Jacob Pullen (3,978, 2007-11), Rodney McGruder (3,708, 2009-13) and Askia Jones (3,547, 1989-94).• With 2 more starts, Spradling would become the 6th player in school history with 100 starts, joining Ed Nealy (118), Steve Henson (118), Rolando Blackman (116), Jacob Pullen (116) and Rodney McGruder (102).• With 5 assists vs. No. 7/7 Kansas, Spradling became the 6th Wildcat (1st since Jacob Pullen) to tally 300 assists in a career... The 5 others include Henson (582), Pullen (455), Clent Stewart (395), Tyrone Adams (323) and Rolando Blackman (320).• Spradling, who had a 10 points vs. TCU, now ranks 27th on the school’s scoring chart with 986 points... He needs 14 points to become the 25th player in school history with 1,000 points and the first since Rodney McGruder (2012)• Spradling has chance to become the 4th Wildcat with 1,000 points, 300 assists and 100 steals, joining Henson, Jones and Pullen... He is 14 points short of 1,000 after posting above those totals in assists and steals.• Spradling is averaging 11 points in the last 8 games (since at Texas) on 52.6 percent shooting (30-of-57), including 48.6 percent (18-of-37) from 3-point range... He is also averaging 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 34.8 minutes per game.• Spradling ranks 9th in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals (1.6) and steals (1.3) and 12th in 3-point field goal percentage (36.2) and 13th in assists (2.8)... He also ranks 8th in Big 12-only games in steals (1.2) and 3-pointers (1.8) and 15th in assists (2.9).

GIPSON RETURNS TO FORM• Junior Thomas Gipson is starting to return to form after an injury sidelined him for the first 2 games... He is averaging 11.8 points per game on team-bests in field goal percentage (56.6) and rebounding (6.5 rpg.) since returning vs. LBSU (11/17).• Gipson is also 2nd in scoring, double-digit scoring games (15), field goals (112) and free throws (59) and 3rd in blocks (11).• Gipson has led the team in scoring 8 times and a team-best 13 times in rebounding... He also leads in charges taken (13).• Gipson ranks 1st in rebounding (7.1 rpg.) and 2nd in scoring (12.1 ppg.) and field goal percentage (53.9) in Big 12-only games. • Gipson posted consecutive 20-point games for the 1st time in his career, including a career-high 24 points at Texas (1/21).• 279 of 281 points have been scored in the last 21 games, including 18 points vs. Georgetown (11/22), 15 vs. Ole Miss (12/5), 14 vs. Gonzaga (12/21), 19 vs. TCU (1/7) & West Virginia (2/1), 20 vs. West Virginia (1/14), 24 at Texas (1/21) and 16 vs. TCU (2/19).• Gipson earned his career 7th double-double vs. TCU (2/19) with team-highs in both points (16) and rebounds (11).• Gipson ranks 1st on the team on the season play hard chart with 170 points, including a team-high 56 offensive rebounds.• Due to his off-season weight loss, Gipson has played 30+ minutes 11 times... Prior to this year, he had only done that twice.

FOSTER AMONG THE NATION’S BEST FRESHMEN• Freshman Marcus Foster has placed his name among the best freshmen in the country, as he paces the Wildcats in scoring (15.0 ppg.), field goals (133), 3-point field goals (59) and double-digit scoring games (21)... He ranks 5th in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals (2.3), 6th in 3-point field goal percentage (38.3), 12th in scoring and 15th in field goal percentage.• In Big 12 play, Foster is averaging a team-best 16.2 points on 44 percent shooting, including 42.1 percent from 3-point range, with 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 29.5 minutes per game... In Big 12-only games, he is 5th in 3-point field goals (2.5) and 3-point field goal percentage, 11th in scoring and assists, 12th in field goal percentage and 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio. • Foster has scored in double figures in 21 games (10 in Big 12 play) and has led the Wildcats in scoring a team-best 13 times.• Foster has knocked down at least one 3-pointer in 23 of 26 games... He has 2+ treys in 18 games and 4+ treys in 6 contests with a season-best 5 vs. Texas (2/8)... He broke the freshman school record for 3-pointers at Iowa State (1/25).• Foster has twice been named the CBSSports.com/USBWA Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 7 & Feb. 11) and Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Jan. 6 & Feb. 10)... He won the awards for the 1st time after averaging 16 points in wins over George Washington and No. 6/6 Oklahoma State then a 2nd time after his 34-point effort vs. No. 15/18 Texas.• Foster became just the 5th true freshman in school history to post a 30-point game with his season-high 34 points vs. No. 15/18 Texas (2/8) on 13-of-16 field goals, joining Mike Evans (1), Curtis Redding (4), Norris Coleman (7) and Michael Beasley (13) in that exclusive company... Only 6 freshmen in Big 12 history have scored more points in game.• Foster’s 34-point effort was the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen went for 38 points vs. Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2011, while it was the most by a freshman since Michael Beasley scored 39 points vs. Kansas on March 1, 2008.• In all, Foster has 5 games of 20 or more points this season with 4 of those coming in the last 7 games.• Foster is the leading scorer regardless of venue, but his home stats are markedly better, as he averages 16.1 points on 44.3 percent shooting in 15 games at Bramlage Coliseum and 17.0 points on 48.8 percent shooting in the 7 Big 12 home games.• Foster has already cracked the freshman Top 10 in 8 categories, including 1st in 3-point field goals, 2nd in 3-point field goal percentage, 6th in points, field goals and field goals attempted, 9th in minutes and free throw percentage and 10th in free throws.

FRESHMEN A BIG PART • The freshmen trio of Marcus Foster, Wesley Iwundu and Nigel Johnson combined to lead the Wildcats in scoring in the first 4 games, marking the first time a freshmen has done that since Michael Beasley did it the first 4 games of 2007-08. • A fourth freshmen was added to the mix on Dec. 21 when Jevon Thomas became eligible after sitting out the first semester.• Overall, the freshmen have paced the team in scoring 14 times in 26 games, including 12 times by Foster... They have also led the team in assists on 16 occasions and in rebounding 5 times... They have also combined for 28 double-digit scoring games.• The freshmen have accounted for 30+ points 11 times, including Texas (42), OSU (34), Iowa State (33), Charlotte (33), Gonzaga (33), ORU (33), Oklahoma (32), West Virginia (32), Ole Miss (31), Tulane (30) and Kansas (30) and 20+ points in 6 others.• Foster and Iwundu have started together in 25 of the last 26 games, while Thomas (20.8) and Johnson (13.2) are averaging more than 13 minutes off the bench... They rank 1st and 4th, respectively, in minute producers among all reserves.• Iwundu became just the 3rd Wildcat true freshman (since they became eligible in 1971-72) to post a double-double in his first career game, posting team-highs in points (14) and rebounds (10) in 20 minutes off the bench vs. Northern Colorado (11/8).• Iwundu had his 2nd double-double vs. Ole Miss (12/5) with 10 points and 10 rebounds... He is 1 of 24 players in the Big 12 with multiple double-doubles, including 5 freshmen... He posted season-highs for assists (8) and steals (3) vs. Texas (2/8). • Thomas made his debut vs. Tulane (12/28), leading in both assists (4) and steals (3) to go with 2 points and 2 rebounds in 19 minutes... He had led the team in assists 7 times in 14 games played with a season-best 8 assists vs. West Virginia (1/18).• The 4 freshmen have accounted for 687 points (an average of 26.4 points per game) on 39.7 percent shooting (229-of-577) with 77 of the team’s 152 3-pointers to go with 271 rebounds, 197 assists and 58 steals in a combined 1,967 minutes.

WILLIAMS AN IMPACT AS A STARTER AND RESERVE• Junior Nino Williams earned just his 3rd start of the season Wednesday vs. TCU (2/19), posting 11 points on 5-of-8 field goals... He had a career-high 20 points and a team-high 8 rebounds in career-best 45 minutes at Baylor (2/15).• Williams is averaging 15.5 points on 56 percent shooting with 6.0 rebounds in his last 2 starts in 32 minutes per game.• Prior to the start, Williams had become a significant presence off the bench, averaging 7.0 points in the last 15 games.• During this 17-game span, Williams is shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line.• K-State boasts a 9-3 record in games in which Williams scores in double figures, including 4-2 this season.• Williams has scored in double figures in 6 of the last 13 games, including 15 points vs. No. 6/6 Oklahoma State (1/4), 12 points at No. 18/20 Kansas (1/11),10 points vs. No. 25 Oklahoma (1/14), 13 points vs. Texas Tech (1/28) and 11 points vs. TCU (2/19).• Williams has solid from the free throw line in the last 5 minutes, knocking down 12-of-14 opportunities... He hit the game-clinching free throws in wins vs. Oklahoma State (3 in a row in last 13 seconds) and Oklahoma (4 straight in last 23 seconds).